Social Work (MSW)

Please submit an application file that includes the following:

Completed on-line application form

The online application form requires you to upload your personal statement and résumé prior to submission. Once an application is available, it can be submitted online at any point prior to the admission deadlines. To guarantee rapid processing of your application please submit your online application well in advance of the deadline. You may save and exit your online application form at any time. You may continue working on your application by signing back in using the credentials you supplied when you began the application. To ensure accurate tracking of your application materials, please be sure to start and submit only one application to our MSW program. If you want to change your start term or program, please email us. Please do not open another application.

$45 non-refundable application fee

A $45 application fee, payable by credit card, must be paid at the time of submission of your application. The application fee is not refundable. Limited application fee waivers are available for applicants affiliated with non-profit organizations such as: City Year, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Teach for America, and military personnel and veterans. Please email Admissions to request instructions for obtaining the fee waiver.

Résumé

A detailed résumé must be uploaded before submitting the online application form. Your résumé should include relevant employment and/or volunteer experiences, education and professional trainings/certificates. Please address any gaps in employment/volunteer experiences in your personal statement. A CV may also be submitted.

Personal Statement (3-5 pages answering the following questions)

• How has your professional, volunteer and academic experience contributed to your decision to be a professional social worker and how it prepared you for graduate social work education? Provide specific examples from your professional, volunteer or academic experience to explain your answer. Make sure to describe your role and the organizational, community and social context for your experience.
• What particular aspects or special fields of social work interest you most?
• Why does Simmons School of Social Work best suit your educational needs?
• What contributions will you make to the school community and to your fellow students?
• How do you plan to manage the rigorous demands of graduate course work and field education?

Additionally, if you have low or inconsistent grades, or attended multiple schools, please discuss factors that contributed to your academic performance.

The Statement of Purpose will be used by the admissions committee to assess and understand your preparation, readiness and motivation for graduate social work education. The Statement of Purpose is also considered a writing sample and is assessed for writing quality.

Official college transcripts, indicating graduation date

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Official transcripts from all previous college courses taken are required. Community college and study abroad transcripts are required only if the course grades are not reflected on your main college transcript.

We prefer transcripts to be sent electronically. You can make your request directly with your undergraduate institution. Your undergrad institution will submit electronic transcripts via Student Clearing House, Scrip-Safe, E-Scrip, Parchment Exchange, or any other certified electronic transcript services. Please use our email [email protected] to send electronic transcripts.

If it is not possible to send transcripts electronically, please mail official transcripts to the address below:

Carlos Frontado
Director of Admission on Campus Programs
Simmons University School of Social Work
300 The Fenway,
Boston, MA 02115

International transcripts must be officially translated and evaluated for educational equivalency.

These instructions are for the on-campus MSW.

Three letters of professional or academic recommendation

We require three professional or academic recommendations to be submitted on your behalf, which must be submitted using our online recommendation form.

As you fill out your online application you will be able to send an invitation to your recommenders which will contain a personalized link to the online recommendation form. You may send the recommendation invitation to your recommenders at any point while you fill out your application. You do not have to wait to submit your application before sending the recommendation invitation. Please note, you must click the "Send Invitation" button to have the invitation sent out. This invitation is not sent out automatically and will not be sent out by Admissions.

In addition to the required fields included in the online recommendation form, recommenders may choose to attach a formal letter of recommendation with their submission.

After inputting your recommenders' information and sending the invitation you will be able to track the receipt status of each recommendation via your self-service portal.

*If your recommenders have any trouble accessing the online recommendation form or did not receive the initial recommendation invitation, please contact the Office of Admission for assistance.

Additional Requirements

• For Advanced Standing Applicants Only
  • In addition to the statement of professional and educational intent, applicants must include a 2-3 page double-spaced summary of your learning in your BSW internship. This should include:
    • A discussion of a case example in which the applicant used theory to facilitate understanding of the case and guide an intervention or develop a treatment plan.
    • A self-assessment of learning to date, a statement of learning goals and the challenges the applicant anticipates encountering in an advanced clinical placement
    • The social work models and approaches utilized
  • Of the 3 Recommendations, one recommendation from the supervisor of your senior BSW field placement and one recommendation from a BSW faculty member who can comment on your overall performance (courses and placement).^*
  • A copy of your most recent BSW field evaluation.
• Additional Statement for Certificate Programs
  If you are applying to a certificate program you must include an additional 1-2 page personal statement. The prompts are specific to each certificate and are included within the application.
• TOEFL scores, if English is not the first language
  If you have an undergraduate degree from an English speaking country, TOEFL is not required.
• Source of income statement (for international students)
• Writing Skills for Social Workers
  This course may be required as a preregistration condition for some students. It teaches some of the basic skills necessary for written work at Simmons including such issues as; writing a literature review, organizational skills in writing, using the APA format and other skills useful for entry into the program.
• Mandatory Health Insurance
  Effective September 1, 1989, all full-time and three-fourths time students enrolled in a Massachusetts institution of higher education are required to be covered by health insurance for the 12 months following September 1, or from the date of enrollment, if after September 1, until August 31 of each year enrolled. The insurance coverage must meet minimum requirements as defined by the state as Qualifying Student Health Insurance Plan (QSHIP). All colleges and universities offer insurance that students must purchase unless they waive participation by demonstrating that they have comparable coverage.

Recommendations should address the applicant's readiness for an advanced clinical internship.

^*Note: Applicants who have been employed in a social work position for a minimum of one year post-BSW may submit a letter of reference from an MSW employment supervisor.

Note: Standardized test scores are not required.

Application Status

After submitting the online application you will be able to track the status of your application and required materials by signing into your self-service portal at any time. While it is your responsibility to check on the status of your application via the self-service portal, the Office of Admission will occasionally send you emails with updated information about your application. Applications materials are updated to submitted applications daily and will be reflected in your self-service portal as soon as they are received. Please allow 5-7 business days after the submission of your online application for all required materials to be updated to your application and before contacting the Office of Admission regarding the status of your application.

Admission Decisions

Decisions will be uploaded to the Simmons application portal.  You will be able to see your admission decision by logging on to your Simmons application portal. Please inform the Office of Admission of any changes to your mailing address, phone number, or email address. Admission decisions will not be emailed or given over the phone.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; it is desirable that applicants have a balanced liberal arts education on the undergraduate level.

Applicants must show a commitment to social work values and personal qualifications for social work, evidenced in the applicant's Statement of Professional and Educational Intent, and the applicant's letters of recommendation.

An interview is not required; however under certain circumstances we may require an interview with the Director of Admission or a member of the SSW Admissions Committee after application review. Although an interview is not required, informational visits and/or informational conversations via telephone are welcomed and can be arranged by calling 617-521-3939.

Simmons welcomes applications from international students. In recent years, the school has enrolled students from countries including Korea, Uganda, Kenya, Italy, Canada, China, and Japan.

English Language Proficiency

The faculty requires that all prospective students for whom English is not the first language achieve a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A minimum of 6.5 in each section is required for the IELTS. A minimum score of 600 on the paper test, 250 on the computerized test, or 105 on the Internet-based test is required for the TOEFL.

TOEFL Institution Code=3761 TOEFL Department Code=95

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Contact your nearest English language testing center or:

TOEFL(R) Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA
Telephone: 609-771-7100
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ets.org/toefl

Applicants living in the Boston area should contact:

TOEFL(R) Test Center
27-43 Wormwood Street
Boston, MA 02210 USA
Telephone: 617-345-8980

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Contact your nearest English language testing center or:

Find your nearest testing center and upcoming test dates on the IELTS website. Applicants living in the Boston area should contact:

ELS Language Centers/Boston-Newton

IELTS Administrator
777 Dedham Street
Miller Hall
Newton, MA 02459

Telephone: 857-389-2892
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.els.edu/english-programs/testing-test-preparation/ielts

Visa Requirements and Full-Time Academic Status

Visa requirements dictate that international students on an F-1 student status complete their course of graduate study within a two-year period. Students should plan to use summer sessions to take courses in order to remain in compliance.

Required Academic Records

Applicants are required to submit all post-secondary transcripts to be considered for admission (including schools where no degree or certificate was earned by the student). All transcripts need to be official (signed in original ink and stamped with a seal) academic records.

In order to ensure that all transcripts and applications are being evaluated accurately, we require non-US or Canadian transcripts to be evaluated by an organization that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) such as WES, SpanTran, or IEE.

Evaluations should include English translations and U.S. equivalencies of all transcripts are required for all transcripts from colleges and universities outside the United States and Canada. Notarized translations, as well as photocopies or facsimiles are not acceptable. Evaluations must be sent directly from the evaluation service (not from the applicant). In the U.S., academic records or mark sheets are called "transcripts" (this is the term used throughout this web site).

Study Abroad

Transcripts from study abroad programs which have been transferred into a U.S. institution (and the grades are not listed on the degree-granting transcript) should be provided to Simmons. These do not have to be evaluated by a NACES member; however, they should be translated into English if the classes are not listed on the degree-granting transcript.

Financial Assistance

International students are eligible for merit based scholarships which are awarded to the top 20-25% of new students entering in the fall (September) and spring (January) semesters. International students may also apply for the Dean's Fellowships which are our most prestigious awards. International students are not eligible for need-based grants or federal loans.

There is minimal funding available for doctoral students.

Transfer Students Applying to Simmons M.S.W. program from other M.S.W. Programs

Transfer students are encouraged to apply to SSW. Acceptance is based on the strength of their application and available openings. Transfer students are those who apply to leave their current MSW program and matriculate as an M.S.W. student at Simmons. Applicants must be in good standing with the school from which they are transferring and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

Application Requirements:

• Completed application form
• Nonrefundable application fee $45 
• 3 to 5 page personal statement of career goals and how the program supports them
• A short statement outlining their reasons for transferring
• Official college transcripts, indicating graduation date and transcripts from current M.S.W. program 
• Letter of good standing from the Dean, Associate Dean or Director of the MSW program
• A field evaluation for first year field education is required
• Three letters of professional or academic recommendation

Additional information for transfer applicants:

• A maximum of 32 credits may be requested for transfer. Only credits from a CSWE accredited M.S.W. program will be accepted.
• A syllabus for each course must be submitted for transfer credit
• Courses in which the student receives a “B-” or lower will not be transferred
• All M.S.W. coursework, including transfer credits, must be completed within 5 years

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC LRP) offers fully trained and licensed clinical social workers $50,000 to repay student loans in exchange for two years serving in a community based site in a high-need Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) that has applied to, and been approved by, the NHSC as a service site.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a loan forgiveness program targeted at students who pursue public service careers and who have high debt but not high income. Generally this program is available to anyone who works in a non-profit organization. Debt forgiveness is available for Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Plus Loans and Grad Plus Loans. For more information, please visit these web sites:

• FinAid - Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Federal Student Aid - Public Service Loan Forgiveness 

Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works has a resource page for student debt relief.

Income-Based Repayment Resources

IBRinfo.org has information and tools for students to apply for Income-Based Repayment and update their income online. They also offer an IBR calculator. 

Indian Health Services (IHS) Loan Repayment Program

MSW prepared clinical social workers, employed by the IHS, are eligible to apply for the IHS Loan Repayment Program. For more information, visit the IHS website.

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Public Health Professions (PHP) are responsible for addressing the health needs of over 1.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives in a network of 48 hospitals, more than 230 clinics, and a system of Tribal and Urban programs. As part of the US Department of Health and Human Services Their mission is to raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of this diverse population to the highest level. To contact the social work recruiter call 301 443 4754

Army National Guard Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Social Workers

The Army National Guard is a part-time service that requires one week-end a month and 15 days of annual training each year from October to October and has a flexible training program that can fit individual's schedules. The Massachusetts Army National Guard's Medical Detachment is located Hanscom Air Force Base in Lexington, MA. For those students who will be leaving Massachusetts, positions exist in other States.

Additionally, the Guard provides Federal Loan Repayments up to $60,000 ($20,000 a year for three years), Special Bonus of $45,000 ($15,000 a year for three years), $400,000 life insurance, Tri-Care Medical Coverage, PX and Commissary Privileges. Upon completion of 20 years service in the Guard, you would receive a Military Pension at age 60 and be entitled to receive all Military Retiree benefits, to include Health Care. Appointees should attend an Officer Basic Course within 18-24 months of joining the Guard at Fort Sam Houston, TX

For more information contact Joseph Guerriero at 571-641-9032 or at [email protected]